Attitude and performance pleases Kernan

In his first managerial position since stepping down as Armagh manager in August 2007, Joe Kernan's Galway side cantered past New York last night to collect the Connacht FBD League title.

"I'm pleased with the win and pleased with the way the boys behaved the whole weekend," said Kernan, who was installed last month to take the Tribesmen back to the heights of All-Ireland glory of 2001.

Kernan brought the Sam Maguire Cup to the his native Armagh for the very first time in 2002 and his Galway reign started with a 1-18 to 0-4 demolition of New York at Gaelic Park in the Bronx last night.

"It was my first game with them and obviously there is a lot of work to be done. They gave 100% and I don't think you can ask for much more than that.

"You are always disappointed," remarked Kernan on Galway's total of 11 wides which a higher quality of opposition would have punished.

"Some of them were from hard angles and some were easy misses too."

Despite missing key players, Kernan's men were completely on top in the final third of the field.

With the forward line combining for a total of 17 scores (1-16) and with a defensive work rate which Galway has lacked in previous years, it has not taken long for the new manager to make his mark.

Of the scorers, Nicky Joyce led the way with 0-7, Eoin Concannon hit 1-1 and Cormac Bane (0-3), Sean Armstrong (0-3), Darren Mullahy (0-2) and Niall Coleman (0-2) shared out the remaining points.

Galway will return to New York for the start of their Connacht Championship next May. Before then, Kernan has a National League campaign to right the wrongs of previous seasons and prepare his panel for a renewed shot at provincial and All-Ireland honours.

"There is an awful lot of work to do in the coming months and we will be working on that," he admitted, reflecting on the numerous wides which Galway continue to rack up and the tracking back of players once they conceded possession of the ball.

"In times gone by they mightn't have fought hard enough but you saw in this game they chased and harried well. Like everything else it is only a starting post.

"There are so many things that need to be done. The attitude was good, and we could not have asked for any more. From that point of view, I'm very happy."